Manoj Bajpayee Moved to Tears as Vijay Varma, Jaideep Ahlawat & Anurag Kashyap Touch His Feet at Jugnuma Premiere

At the Jugnuma red-carpet screening, Manoj Bajpayee experiences a heartfelt moment of respect and camaraderie from younger peers, just before his much-anticipated film hits theatres on September 12.

A heartwarming moment unfolded at the Mumbai premiere of Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming film Jugnuma, when the veteran actor was visibly moved to tears. His peers and admirers—actors Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat, along with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap—expressed their deep respect by touching his feet on stage, leaving the audience emotional.

In a video that quickly spread across social media, Vijay Varma was first seen hugging Bajpayee before playfully bending down to touch his feet. Jaideep soon followed with the same gesture, prompting laughter from Manoj. Not stopping there, Anurag Kashyap dramatically bowed low, almost touching his head to Manoj’s feet, while Vijay clung humorously to one of his legs. The playful tribute brought smiles and hugs all around, while Bajpayee, overwhelmed, struggled to hold back tears.

For the evening, Manoj chose a colorful shirt layered under a brown jacket with matching jeans. Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma twinned in black shirts and blue denims, while Anurag opted for an olive-green trouser and striped shirt ensemble.

Directed by Raam Reddy, Jugnuma (The Fable) is set in the late 1980s and tells the story of Dev (played by Manoj Bajpayee), who, while tending to his sprawling fruit orchard in the Indian Himalayas, discovers mysteriously burned trees. As strange fires continue despite his efforts, Dev confronts haunting truths about himself and his family.

The film features a stellar supporting cast, including Hiral Sidhu, Priyanka Bose, Awan Pookot, Deepak Dobariyal, and Tillotama Shome. Jugnuma is slated for a nationwide theatrical release on September 12, 2025.